Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

**ale** · 10-04-2003, 07:53 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Sienna,

We did really enjoy our trip this time. Even though we didn't do as much as we did before we have decided this is the way we want to do all future trips, if possible. I think last time we were afraid we might never get to come back. Now that we know that isn't necessarily (or likely!!) true we don't have to worry about that and we know we don't have to cram as much as possible into a trip!

Please don't feel bad about the queasiness. I didn't realize it was hitting me until we were almost there. I think it had something to do with the road being more twisty etc. as we got closer to Mayfield. I'm well aware that you would have traded spots with me and believe me, except for being embarressed for getting carsick I won't hesitate to ask.

Tell Sala that he's apologized enough and not to think any more about it. It happens and if he complains about being "old" he'll just make Don and I feel bad. (Remind him that we do have a few years head start on him!)

If we remember correctly, Yes, that would describe the fire eater, most limber person I have ever met in my life guy pretty well. The marumba player was his grandson and his name is Courtney if that helps any. I know what you mean about being half that limber at his age. The only problem is that I'm already beyond that mark now! And with Don's back.....well you can guess how that makes him feel!

**ale** · 10-04-2003, 08:29 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Day 5 Saturday

No alarm today so get another late start to the day. By the time we finish breakfast it's probably about 11:30! Don's back is better but still bothers him some so he goes to soak in the jacuzzi again. I take a book to read and sit with him. (The hot water on my sunburned legs still stings a little! Guess that's less painful to Don than his back!)

I leave Don to soak and go to the front to wait for Shereth. She had said about 12:00 to 12:30 and since CocoLaPalm prefers guests only past certain points I want to be sure and be there when she gets here. (Found out later that if you let them know you are expecting someone they are ok with that.)

While waiting for Shereth I talk with the bellman, Richard. He's an older man and very friendly and we compare notes about our differences in culture and climate. He tells me all about CocoLaPalm. We laugh as people pull in and I realize that I have no idea of what Shereth looks like and have to check out everyone to see if they are looking for me! I finally give up and go get Don out of the jacuzzi.

We go down to the beach again but don't get to stay very long. It starts to rain and it looks promising to be another downpour so we go back to the room. We barely make it back till it starts to pour. Even have some loud thunder and pretty vivid lightening! One nice thing about these Jamaican soakers...they are warm and if you take cover they are great to watch. We do that and so do our next door neighbors. Again we talk about Jamaica and things they can see and do. And how to get connections for drivers, etc. We had bought some warm coco bread from a beach vendor just before it rained and we let them try it. It was their first. Then we let them try one of the bananas we got before. (Probably ruined their taste for ones back here for awhile.) While we are talking with them our phone rings and it's Shereth. She has finally been able to get away and come to meet with us. She is at the office but says she will wait the rain out there for awhile. When the rain finally slows Richard brings her back to our room. She brings us some guineps. We have seem them all up and down the roads offered for sale but have yet to taste them. After showing us HOW to eat them we all try them (John and Sabrina next door, too). We visit awhile and in the conversation Shereth finds out that Don has back problems. She offers to hook him up with her friend Jennifer who is a certified masseuse who Shereth assures us is well qualified and seems to have a healing touch. She offers to make a connection for us if Don would like. Don is pretty particular about who he will let touch his back but he agrees to give Jennifer a try. Shereth promises to get back with us about that. She offers to take us about town while in Jamaica but we have plans with Sienna and Soloman to go to Glistening Waters and aren't sure when we will do that so nothing definite is set up. We tell her we'll try to call when we know something for sure and she's ok with that.

Shortly after Shereth leaves our phone rings and it's Soloman. He apologizes for not feeling well the day before! (Like he had planned that!) Anyway, he tells us he will pick us up at 10:00 the next morning. We have asked to attend a local church and Sienna and Soloman have agreed to take us. Soloman's uncle is the pastor and his aunt a very leading personality in a small country church in the hills somewhere above Little London.

We go back to the beach in hopes of getting some pictures of a beatiful sunset. With all the rain we have not had much to work with. We just start to set up some chairs and I decide to go back to the room to change. (I had been a little chilly just after the rain and had put on a T-shirt and shorts!) It didn't take me long to get too hot! (Probably less that 5 mins. !) While I'm gone Don is approached by a young girl selling some wide slices of banana bread to earn money for school supplies. She and Don are talking when I return. Sadie asks if we would like a whole banana bread and tells us she would be able to bring it to us on Mon. about 1:30 if that would work. She tells us she will just meet us near the restaurant which is on the beach . We agree. Then Don goes back to the room to change into swim trunks. We set up "camp" to take whatever sunset we will get!

We don't get any of the bright pinks, oranges or anything but what we do get are still very pretty. I just wish we knew then what we know now about our cameras. A lot of the shots we get don't turn out too well. We haven't taken pictures for years and both have fairly new digital cameras now. (Our son works in the electronics dept. at our local Wal-Mart and he keeps finding things that we JUST have to have!)

We snap alot of shots till the sun finally sets then head to the restaurant for our supper. We get back to our room and watch just a little TV. We like to try to find a local station but usually end up putting ourselves to near sleep with the same kind of TV we can get at home! Finally turn out the lights so that we can get around early tomorrow for church.

**zookeypr** · 10-05-2003, 01:46 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Ale, great report so far.

I am very interested in visiting the church, I will have to talk to Sienna and Soloman about it.

I love your pics, they look good to me

I especially love the second to last one with the couple holding hands, how romantic.

Keep up the good work [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

**ale** · 10-05-2003, 11:20 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Day 6 - Sunday

We get up early. Don is not sure till he gets up how his back is going to do so we allow extra time just in case. (Usually with exercises he can get loosened up enough to function!) Don's back is doing pretty good today. We get to breakfast at 8:00! Conroy, our server asks if we are leaving today. I realize he means because we are there so much earlier than we have been! We laugh and tell him, "No, just going to church". He seems a little surprized and then just asks us to pray for all of them since they have to work. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]ray: [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Because we are early we have time to take a walk on the beach. We take off our shoes and socks and leave them with Lenord. (He's the friend we've made who works at CocoLaPalm. He rakes the beach and also works where you pick up your beach towells, setting out the chairs and just all around takes care of you when you are on their beach.) We haven't been to the North yet so we head that way. We go until we get where we would have to wade out a little farther and are afraid we'll get our shorts wet. We head back and go to our room and change for church. We just barely are ready and Sienna knocks at the door. We had made plans for church and to go to Rocklands and Glistening Waters today also. Sienna tells us that Soloman wants to take the inland road after church to Anchovy (near Rockland Bird Sanctuary) so we will need to bring our change of clothes with us to change at their yard. It doesn't take too long to throw it all in a bag and we are on our way.

We head for the church which is somewhere in the hills above Little London. We take a route that takes you past surgar cane fields and up the mountain. We arrive a little early. Sunday school for the kids is still going on. We go a little further up the hill and stop at a small shop and get something cool to drink. We get back to the church just as Sunday school is breaking up and take our seats.

The church is still underconstuction. Right now it is cement walls with openings for windows all around and a roof. There is a raised area in the front that is used for the pulpit, etc. Behind them the church looks out over a beautiful valley. We sit on plank board pews. There are bathrooms to the side for those in need. The church is pastored by Soloman's uncle. His aunt leads the children in their lessons and songs and helps lead the service. Today is children's Sunday so the children recite bible verses and help lead the worship. They are dressed in their "sunday best" clothes and all look so nice. Today they also have a guest speaker who delivers the sermon. The only musical instrument is a tambourine. (Which Soloman's aunt plays so well you don't miss other music!)
They all sing songs by memory. There seems to be only one hymnal. When Soloman's aunt realizes we don't know the words she brings the hymnal back to us so we can sing with them. Members of the congregation read scriptures from the bible. We are welcomed very warmly during the service. The whole service is very inspirational.

After the service we are greeted again. We are told that before the church was built the congregation had been meeting under a nearby mango tree that now is strangely bearing fruit well past the usual bearing time. We are some of the last ones to leave. We head back to Sienna and Soloman's to change clothes and then are on our way to Rockland Bird Sanctuary.

Rockland's is a place that you should all visit if you have the time and love birds and like to spend time in a quiet country setting. When we arrive we are greeted by Fritz. He takes us into a covered patio area and sets out chairs for us. He hads us a tiny bottle of hummingbird nectar (sugar water) and shows us how to hold it and a finger on the other hand so that the birds will land on our finger and feed from our bottle. Don sees him tip the regular feeders up so that the birds can't feed from them then he sits down with us and softly calls to the birds. Soon we hear the "whir" of the tiny wings and see hummingbirds flying around the patio area. Don has one land on his finger almost right away. For some reason it takes quite awhile for me to have one land on my finger. I do, however, have several that feed from my bottle! Sienna and Soloman watch with our cameras and take some shots of us. After awhile Don trades his bottle for some finch feed in the palm of his hand. He sits with his palm out and just holds still. Soon he has a couple of finches eating "right from the palm of his hand!" The grounds at Rocklands are very lush and green. They also are up on a hill and have very pretty view. We wait out a rain and then head for Glistening waters.

Glistening waters is a lagoon near Falmouth where a micro-organism grows. It grows only in two other places in the world as far as anyone knows. This micro-organism glows when the water is disturbed. We get there in time to order something from their restaurant. Soloman wasn't able to wait till then so he's gotten food at Burger King in Montego Bay. He heads for the dock while we try to decide what to order. Before we make a decision he comes back very excited. A boat has just come in and the fishermen have landed a huge Marlin! If my memory is right it was 10 ft. long and weighed 280 lbs! Wow! While we eat Soloman watches and helps them clean the fish. The people who have caught it can't take it on their plane and they leave tomorrow. They share the fish with Soloman and others near by. They take some back to their hotel for the cook at their hotel to prepare for them. Soloman is one happy camper!

We finish eating just as it gets dark and they are ready to board a boat for the lagoon. Don, Sienna and I get in and Soloman stays behind with the fishermen. Our guide on the boat is Jerry. He makes sure you will remember him by telling you about the micro-organism (even it's scientific name... which with the Jamaican accent I won't even try to repeat!) and of all the wonderful virtues you will possess if you will swim in the water. Most of them, of course, are to make you laugh. He tells us that because of the recent rains we will have to stay fairly close to the shore. The organism grows better in the warmer water and the upper water has been cooled down by the rains. He tells you to not touch the bottom as it is silty and if disturbed you will not be able to see the glow as well. He assures me that the water isn't more than 3-4 ft. deep. I almost don't get in since I'm only 4' 9" tall. He tells us that if we stand on the bottom we will sink to our knees in the silt! OK...4 ' is about to my chin...I sink to my knees...No Thank-you! Then he offers me a life jacket. OK...I'll try it. Sienna and I swim. It is beautiful. You move your arms and the water glows. You can see fish darting away by the glow as they go. When we got back in the boat Sienna told me to look down my swim suit. It looked like I was sprinkled with glitter! Then they take you out a bit further into the bay to a small island. This island is full of trees. He shines a light on the trees and they are FULL of egrets. The white birds that you see on the backs of the cows in the day. He says they leave the trees early in the morning, go to the land to feed and then roost here at night. The trees look like a very fully covered christmas tree with white lights (even though the trees were not pines). Glistening Waters is a trip that can't be described well with words. You will just have to try it for yourself.

We go back to restaurant to settle up and change back into our clothes and head back to Negril. We get back to our hotel about 10:00. Sienna and Soloman tell us they will pick us up tomorrow afternoon for a trip to the west end to Rick's. (We'll try for another sunset.)

Today we had a very full day! Guess what? We head for bed! Good Night.

**Scottie** · 10-06-2003, 12:51 AM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Soloman wasn't able to wait till then so he's gotten food at Burger King in Montego Bay.

I know this is politically incorrect, but I love to go to the Burger Kings and KFCs in Jamaica. The reason is 99% of the time the food is made "to order" and it just tastes great. I am fortunate enough living in South Florida to be able to pretty much eat any kind of Jamaican dish whenever I want. So in Jamaica, I love having that double cheeseburger and fries, though I don't even eat at those places alot when I'm home. And, anytime I'm driving around with my wife's nieces and nephews, they always want to go to either KFC, BK, or MacDonald's. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

**ohliz** · 10-06-2003, 12:29 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Loving the report ale! I've wanted to go to Rocklands and church and Glistening Waters (been there but not out on the boat). So I feel like I'm living through your report, keep going!!

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

**geocox** · 10-06-2003, 06:10 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

This report is so late, you were almost marked absent. I have been back for 5 weeks.

You did all the right things on the trip. Glistening Waters is a must for everyone,so glad you got to see the phenomenon. We stayed next door to the west at Fisherman's Inn and would here the Mento music on some nights coming from the restaurant.
Your visit with our winged friends is special. Another trip many newcomers need to try.

You both filled your trip with many trips during your days; its nice to have guides like Solomon & Sienna. Keep it coming

Geo [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70365-flirt.gif[/img]

**ale** · 10-08-2003, 01:49 AM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Day 7- Monday

We get up about 8:00 again, naturally, no alarm. While I wait for Don to get around I remember that we have not confirmed our flight home. That's scheduled for tomorrow. Oops, we let this go almost too late. Do you think maybe they'll keep us and not let us go home? I try to use the toll free # that is in the ticket holder but it tells me that the # doesn't work from Jamaica. I go to the office to see if they can help. They volunteer to take care of it for us. Just as I get back to the room the phone rings. It's Jennifer, the masseuse that Shereth has recommended. Because we are to met Sadie on the beach at 1:30 to pick up the banana bread we agreed to on Saturday, we arrange for Don to see Jennifer at 2:00. (Our first mistake of the day. We didn't allow enough time between appointments! More mistakes to follow!) Jennifer asks if we would like her to come to us or for us to go to her shop. To be honest, we haven't mastered the route taxis on our own yet so we ask her to come to us. We go to breakfast.

We decide that we had better get some traveler's checks cashed so after breakfast we go to our room to get them out of the safe. The light on the phone is flashing letting us know we have messages. We call the office to retrieve them. One is Shereth and we are to return her call. One is Sienna saying they will pick us up at 2:30 so that we can go with them to met GeoCox. Uh oh, that won't work...Don's appointment with Jennifer is to take an hour. We won't be back here at 2:30. The other is that the hotel has confirmed our flights. First we call Shereth back. She tells us that it would be better for us to go to Jennifer's shop because she has her table, etc. She offers to arrange a taxi for us. That's great and we say ok. She tells us she will have the taxi pick us up at 2:00. We call Sienna and tell her what is going on and they agree to just wait till 3:30 to pick us up but we won't get to met George. Darn! Oh well, it can't be helped. On to the cambio.

We decide to walk down the beach to the cambio. ( The second mistake!) We stop on the way to talk with Donavan. He is the man who runs the table of carved art right on CocoLaPalm's beach. We have been here all week and haven't taken time to look. Today we do and we pick out a beautiful carving of a pair of parrots for my mom and dad and a queen conch shell (this is the first one we've ever seen) for us. We tell him we don't have cash but are heading for the cambio and he agrees to hold them for us till we get back. We tell him we'll be right back. Since we're walking down the beach we go barefooted. (The third mistake! Of course, we didn't know any of these are mistakes yet!) All is well so far and even though it was farther down the beach than we thought it was it was not a problem. We find the sign and begin to head the direction it points. This happens to be right down the middle of a small craft market. Someone asks us if we are looking for the cambio. We say "yes" and he gives us directions. We get to the cambio and I don't have my ID! But since Don has his and the traveler's checks are some in his name and some in mine she cashes mine anyway, just doesn't give me a reciept. While we are in the cambio and she is figuring things out a lady comes in and makes some change. She strikes up a conversation with us. As we are leaving the cambio she tells us she has a table at the craft market and asks us to please take a look I tell her we will look but probably won't buy because we have our gifts already bought. She says ok, just take a look. She shows us her table and I do find a nice wooden trinket box that is pretty and reasonable so I agree to buy it. (4th mistake!) That's when the FUN begins!!! As soon as I have agreed to buy she asks me to please look at the next table. It's her Grandmama's. Ok, I'll look. I don't know what happened to our will power (or should I say won't power) but I agree to buy a necklace that I don't need and have just messed up the ratio of gifts we are bringing home for the kids! Now, one has more gifts! Next thing we know, this table is her nieces, her uncle's, etc. etc. etc. One guy practically forces a bag on us saying we need it to carry everything in. He keeps taking the things out of our hands and stuffing them into the bag. I take them out, he grabs them and stuffs them back in! ENOUGH!!!!! At this point, I'm getting a little overwhelmed. I agree to the bag just to get away from him and I figure I can get some use out of it. There was just one more table we hadn't purchased from and as I picked out a bracelet the young lady tells me she will just give it to me. I think they realize that we aren't too happy at this point! I tell her "No, I paid them, I'll pay you, too! By the time we were done we have spent at least $70.00 US ! We don't buy anything we really want. And we had forgotten all about higgling!

At about the same time I'm talking to the girl from the last table the girl from the cambio comes to find us. Don missed a signature on one of the traveler's checks and she needs him to come back to the cambio to sign it. He heads that way. I tell the girl from the table that Don has all the money, (he had pockets, I didn't) and that she will have to come with me toward the cambio because I WILL NOT come back this way again! She walks with me to the cambio, collects her money and heads back to the craft market. We walk down the road. The HOT road. In bare feet! We walk as far as the Bar-B-Barn and then cut through there till we get back to the beach. I try to convince myself that we've just helped the Jamaican economy but the way they went about it still kind of bothers me. I feel a little like we were set up from the time we were given directions to the cambio. When we get back I thank Donavon for not being like the regular beach higglers. (He didn't try to "sell us " anything, just let us look.)

By now it is about 1:00. We don't have time to change and get some beach time as we had planned for the morning. Sadie is to meet us here at 1:30 and we are to meet our taxi at 2:00 ! We just sit out on a couple of beach chairs and watch everyone and wait for Sadie. And wait. And wait. It's almost 2:00 and no Sadie. We want to be true to our word and buy the banana bread but we have to go. We finally decide to give the money to Donavan and ask him to pay Sadie if she finally brings the bread. Don goes to ask him if he will do that and I head up to the office to meet the taxi and hold it till Don gets up there.

I get into the office and there sits Sadie! She has been waiting in the office the whole time instead of on the beach as she had said. As we make a bee line to intercept Don and get the money he was leaving with Donavan I tell her we have to hurry because we are supposed to meet a taxi just about now. She tells me that while she was in the office she saw the taxi come and then leave when we didn't show up! She then asks me if I have any pens, pencils or school supplies or a little purse that I could give her. NO! Not you, too! She is a very sweet girl but after the morning we just had... Unfortunately, I hadn't even brought a purse with me this vacation and we had already given the school supplies we had brought with us to Sienna and Soloman to distribute. We didn't have anything to give her so she asks if we can exchange names and addresses so that we could possibly send her something. I tell her we don't like to give out our home address, etc. but she can give us her info if she wants. She writes a very sweet little note with her info. (We haven't yet sent anything. We aren't sure how to send anything without it being too expensive for her to pick up! Any ideas?)

By the time Sadie leaves it's about 2:20. We don't have time to get another taxi, Don have an hour appointment for his back, and be back here by 3:30! Now we have let the taxi driver down, and Jennifer down and Shereth in the long run because she has tried to help us out with all of this. I'm pretty bummed out at this point. This is our last full day in Jamaica and it's turned out like this. So much for the "soon come" attitude of Jamaica! I can have days like this at home!

We go back to the room to regroup. We call Jennifer and explain why we didn't make it. Shereth calls and we tell her what happened. She says she would still like to see us. I tell her we are going to Ricks to try for a sunset. She tells us she will meet us there. We call Sienna and tell her that if they are still able to, we are availabe at 2:30 after all and CAN go to meet George. She says that's fine but that they are running behind and will pick us up about 3:00 or so. I calm down a little by the time Soloman pulls up. He takes us to Beach House Villas where he has already dropped Sienna off at George's. We get to meet George, MissS and her friend Stacy. George offers us some fried chicken that they are cooking. We watch a tape of one of Sonja's dance contests. Interesting! We had a very pleasant visit.

From George's Soloman and Sienna take us to the west end where we stop at the Hi Lo to cash some more traveler's checks at the cambio there. (We had spent too much this morning.) They show us the light house then we go to Rick's, hoping for a beautiful sunset. It wasn't to be. It was very overcast and cloudy. We did wait and see the guy dive from the highest point after they finally collected $15.00 from the crowd of people waiting around.

Sienna and Soloman watching the guy about to dive.

The guy about to dive at Rick's

People waiting to dive at Rick's

Looking down into the water at Rick's

We decide we don't want anything from Rick's menu and it's noisy and crowded. We leave and go to Pirates Cave. We check out the cave and visit a bit with Soloman's relatives who live across the road.
We check out their menu too but decide to try somewhere else. We finally settle on 3 Dives. When we get there we order jerk chicken and while waiting on it we meet Soloman's friend Collin. We eat with him and just have a nice calm meal with pleasant conversation. But, oops, we forgot about meeting up with Shereth at Ricks! Shereth, if you're reading this "we are sorry!".

In front of Pirate's Cave

After we eat we get back to the hotel well after dark. We were told on the flight down to be at the airport 2 1/2 hours before take off. First class only needed to be there 1 1/2 hours early. Sienna and Soloman don't think we need to be there 2 1/2 hours early so they tell us they will pick us up at 10:00. We will later thank them greatly. (I'll tell you about that tomorrow!) We finish packing what we can and head for bed. What a last day! Or so we thought.....

**ale** · 10-08-2003, 02:28 AM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Scottie...Don't blame you or Soloman for liking Burger King. We just don't want to eat Burger King while in Jamaica. We live in a pretty small town and it's one of the few places we have to eat out at so we get pretty tired of it up here!

ohliz...glad you are enjoying the report. It was a great day and I hope you get to do these things some day too.

Geo...(I'm standing in the corner....sorry for being so late! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img] LOL) It's been fun re-living the trip as I write this. I just wish we knew for sure when our next trip to Jamaica will be. I don't think anyone here at home understands our "fixation" with Jamaica. I'm not sure we do ourselves! Just know that we are "fixated!" [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] It was great meeting you and hope to do it again sometime.

**ale** · 10-08-2003, 04:49 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Tuesday- Day 8 & Wednesday Day 9

We set the alarm last night and get up around 8:00. We have mixed emotions. We look forward to going home to see family and friends... but really hate to leave all this behind. We love Jamaica's climate. We have friends here as well. We don't have to go to work!!! We realize that isn't the real world but man do we like this world! We go to breakfast. While waiting for our food I get teary thinking about telling the staff good-bye. (I cried last trip too, but not till on the plane!) Lenord comes by our table. He had told us either Fri. or Sat. that Monday would be the night for a great sunset. Of course, last night was about the least pretty sky we had seen. We tease him about that. He kind of shrugs with a "what can I say" attitude. I let him off the hook by reminding him that he really had only promised a "sunset" not a gorgeous one. And the sun HAD set! He laughs at that and tells us to come back sometime. We tell him we really hope to.

After breakfast we go back to the room to make sure that all is packed and ready. We decide to go ahead and check out so we will be ready when Sienna and Soloman get there. (I have to admit I am a bit nervous about not getting to the airport when they told us to be there. But I realize that Sienna and Soloman have been running people back and forth from the airport for a long time and I'll trust their judgement.) Checking out doesn't take too long and with just a few minutes to spare we are ready. Here come Sienna and Soloman and we are on our way.

The ride to the airport is pretty normal. I try to take everything I can in, knowing I won't be seeing Jamaica again for awhile. When we get to the airport, we go in and try to find the US Air desk. Wow, we are not the only ones who didn't come as early as they were told to! The line is huge. It goes all the way back to the front windows! This, of course, is the line for coach. The first class line is about half the size. We get in line and Sienna stays with us and visits awhile. I think we all hate to say "good-bye". She waits with us probably about 1/2 hour (in which we have BARELY moved forward!) and we tell her we realize that she has a life to live too and we don't expect her to wait the whole time with us. We say a somewhat tearful good-bye with promises to keep in touch and Sienna asking us to try to make bashment next year. We tell her we would like to but only time will tell if we can save up enough for another trip again so soon. (As we've gotten older we have begun to think ahead to retirement and know that as much as we'd like to we can't have too much in credit card debt, etc. We refuse to go into debt for things that aren't necessary. We're hoping to be able to spend the winter months in a warm climate when we retire. Who knows, if we plan right now, maybe we can spend our winters in Jamaica!)

Anyway, we stand in this very long line. It's clear back to the windows again. A skycap (or whatever) can't get past and he tells the people in back of the line to go ahead and get in the "first class" line. We watch as those people get processed and head on in to wait for boarding . The couple behind us gets nervous about making the flight on time. She asks someone from the airport about the time and length of line and is told not to worry, the plane may leave late but she will have a seat. We wait some more and decide worry wont help and try to remember to have a "soon come" attitude.

While waiting, an airport representative comes down the line telling us the plane has been over-booked by 17 seats! 17....!!!!! She asks for volunteers to bump to a flight the next day. Then she offers us a really "sweet" deal to convince us to volunteer. She says they will put us up at an all inclusive for the night. They will provide all transportation to and from the airport. They will pay for all meals and drinks while at the AI. They'll put us in 1st class tomorrow. OK, this isn't too bad of a deal so far. We get to stay one more day in Jamaica AND don't have to pay for it? We don't have to be back home that night. We had planned an extra day to "recuperate" from our vacation anyway. Then she tops the offer off with....vouchers good for one year that entitles us to a free round trip ticket anywhere in the Caribbean !!!!!!! That of course, settled it. PICK US ! PICK US! She does, along with 15 or so others. We have to wait until they actually get the plane we were supposed to be on in the air and then takes us into their offices to work out the details of the AI etc. While we are waiting they let us use their phone to make calls letting the people at home know what's going on. We don't even have to pay for the call!

After working out all the kinks, they have made arrangements for us at the Wyndham Rose Hall about 12 miles east of Montego Bay. At first I'm not too excited. (That's where we stayed on our trip 3 years ago and I would have liked to try a different resort. But, it's free and I know it's nice enough, so ok.) We just arrive and are waiting to check in and it hits me. My picture frame!!! (If you have been reading since the beginning you'll remember that I missed getting the frame I wanted for our 25th anniversary picture when here 3 years ago.) It was at this Wyndham's gift shop!!!!! WOW, tell me God doesn't work in mysterious ways!

We get checked in and the first place we go after getting settled in our room is the gift shop. And they have a frame. I won't swear it's exactly like what I saw 3 yrs. ago but it is still silver and pretty. This one will do!! I GOT THE FRAME!!!!

We go back to the room and change into swimsuits. We have to call a toll free # to get our seats upgraded to 1st class for tomorrow. This takes awhile because there is some kind of glitch with their computers but finally it's taken care of and the rest of the day is ours. It's probably about 5:00 by now.

We try the beach but it is VERY rough today. The water near the beach almost looks muddy. Certainly not like the beach in Negril! We go to the waterpark instead. (We hadn't used it last time here either. We had not gone AI because we had planned to be out and about so much last time. It was not available to us then unless we paid to go in and since we aren't swimmers we didn't!) The park closes at 6:00 but we have had enough by then anyway. You float around the circle a few times on the provided intertubes and you've done it. We didn't know the park closed at 6:00 so just missed the water slide.

To dry off a little we decide to go to the pool bar. Don likes rum punches. I don't usually drink. (I haven't found an alcoholic drink I like and I won't pay so much for something I may not like.) Since it's on US Air's dime I ask about the " dirty banana" I hear so much about here. The bartender tells me it's banana rum cream and kahlua (sp?). I know I don't like kahlua or rum but I will admit the rum cremes are a tad bit better. I pass and he suggests an ambassodor's dream (reef?). It's banana and banana rum creme and a couple of other things. Now THAT I liked. Not too strong on the alcohol and very pleasantly banana flavored. Don had 2 rum punches. (A side note here...He had 2 rum punches at CocoLaPalm, our dime of course. He felt those!!! The 2 here at the Wyndham, their dime, didn't even phase him. What does that tell you?)

We go back to our room to change and go to the downstairs cafe for our supper. The food is mediocre at best. Not much on the menu to choose from. And it's very warm in there. That's unusal for me, air conditioning usually freezes me but I was uncomfortably stuffy there that night. (I admit we didn't have any of these problems 3 years ago. This was the only place we ate at when on their grounds, which wasn't often. Must just have been an off time for them.)

The next morning we eat at the big buffet they have on the terrace. Lots of breakfast items to choose from. More traditonal (for us) than Jamaican. The food was very good. We see several of our "bumped" buddies.

After breakfast we head to the lobby and check out. Our Juta driver from the airport arrives at 10:30 and we get to the airport in good time. The line is long again. We start to line up, but one of our "bump buddies" is rather outspoken and says she will NOT wait in this line again today and goes to the front of the line. She tells them at the desk of our situation and she gets us all waved on through! We didn't have to wait in line or have our suitcases gone through again. (That's kind of a scary thought these days, but all was well!) We go on through the usual things and then wait. Finally, it's time to board and we are on our way. Again, filled with mixed emotions.

We arrive in Charlotte. We make it through customs. We have to pick up our bags, recheck them and then go find the gate for our connecting flight. Don checks his watch and it is just now time for them to start boarding our flight. We hoof it through the airport. We get to gate 13. The town and flight # do not match what's on our ticket and there is no one there! We find a nearby airport employee who checks the computer and tells us that the gate has been changed and tells us we should be at gate #2 ! We back track as fast as we can and get to gate 2. (We had passed it on the way to gate 13!) They haven't even begun to board yet! They can't find the crew of the plane! We hear an annoucement calling for the crew. We wait about 20 minutes or so and finally the crew arrives and we board. We taxi out to the runway pretty quickly. (We are late taking off!) We have to wait for 8 planes before us to take off and at least 4 planes to land but finally we go.

The flight attendant on our plane from Charlotte to Dayton is a hoot. He is giving the usual emergency flight instructions. At first I'm paying very little attention. (This will make the 5th time I've heard them in about 9 days and I can't see him over the back of the seat in front of me without really stretching.)
But he gets my attention when he gets to the seat buckle portion. He says something about "I'll demonstrate this now, for those of you who haven't been in a car since 1964!" We all laugh and he goes on to the air mask.."As soon as you stop screaming place the mask...." and then about the seat cushion being a floatation device.. "and should your flight to Dayton today happen to become a cruise..." That made the whole thing more fun and our remaining 1 hour 5 min. flight happens without any further ado.

When we get to Dayton we feel like we are almost home. (We're still about 1 1/2 hour from home by car but it's home stomping grounds!) We try to collect our luggage...and one is missing! The one with the picture frame in it!!!! We go to the US air office, fill out the usual paperwork. And head for home.
We pull in about 10:00 pm.

HOME.

P.S. The bag comes the very next day! All is well. Now we are left with unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, catching up bills, etc. LIFE! AND planning our "next" trip to Jamaica. We promise ourselves there will be one. (And we try not to be too depressed at being home!)

Thanks for reading. Anita and Don

**dan 624** · 10-09-2003, 11:55 AM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Great trip report; I was sad to see it end........

**ohliz** · 10-09-2003, 12:54 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Oh man, a bump with hotel, food, drinks AND free airfare????? That's my dream!

Did you enjoy 3 Dives? When it comes to folks in Jamaica I really miss, Lloydie and Paula are the first ones I think of...

**packerwmn** · 10-09-2003, 01:03 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Great trip report! You definitely made me add a few more items to my "Things to do while in Negril" list. Thanks for sharing!!!

**loops** · 10-09-2003, 01:08 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Oh man, a bump with hotel, food, drinks AND free airfare????? That's my dream!

I know...why can't that happen to me? Once I've resigned to leave, I would hate to extend an extra day... but for free airfare, I would stick it out the xtra 24 hours!!! what can I say...I'm a martyr!

Thanks for the great trip report...sounds like you had a fun time! Glistening waters huh...I'd love to do that. How long from Negril?

**Classy** · 10-09-2003, 01:35 PM

Re: Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

your report was filled with activity! So when do you plan to use thouse vouchers?

Negril - Jamaica 2003 trip report (finished!)

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

ads